So there are some days in which
beauty takes you by surprise.
I had a doctor's appointment today -
not usually something that comes
even remotely close to being beautiful.
But for just a moment,
I spotted it.
"You look really good today,"
the cardiologist told me
when I went in to see him
for follow-up to a change
in blood pressure meds.
"Your numbers are exceptional.
I'll see you in a year."
That was a spot of unexpected
beautiful news.
And I had about one hour
after that appointment,
and before my next one.
I chose to spend it
in my second 'office,'
reading through a couple of days
in a new devotional guide,
recommended by my friend, Nancy Franson,
and prayerfully pondering future writing
themes and projects.
This is "my" spot on the bluffs, overlooking Butterfly Beach.
From the front of my traveling office space,
this is the view.
Shifting just slightly to my right,
brings in this one, which is a little bit less dramatic.
And this is the view to the rear of my work space.
Not too shabby.
We have been blessed to see some of the most beautiful
coastlines in the world -
the Garden Route in South Africa,
the Amalfi Coast in Italy,
the Italian Riviera,
the north Atlantic seaboard,
from Connecticut all the way up to Nova Scotia,
the Caribbean shores of St. Thomas and Mexico,
the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Baja,
and the entire Pacific Coast of North America,
as far as Alaska and the Yukon.
And this right here?
This is at the top of the list.
And I can drive here in five - count them FIVE - minutes.
Thank you, Lord.
I will admit this about being surrounded by such beauty -
I can easily be distracted.
Take today, for example.
This was a day for boats,
a subject about which I know very little indeed.
though I doubt these photos will give her enough
info to identify what type of boats
I was watching today.
This one was very purposeful,
heading toward waters down
the coast. (You'll note that I did not say
heading south down the coast. That is because
our funny peninsula here faces south
rather than west, so it gets a little weird
if you say you're heading 'south.')
taking in the sights,
enjoying the beauty of a suddenly balmy day
after a tender taste of real fall weather late last week.
looking sleek and intentional.
Again, he was heading down the coast.
began to rev up the engine,
and before I knew it,
I had an interesting shot -
the islands in the distance,
the oil derricks in silhouette,
and two ships, passing in the daylight.
to a parking spot in front of a favorite restaurant
(yes, lunch with a friend is an appointment, right?),
one final flourish from a small craft heading up the coast.
Perhaps this was the first guy heading home?
Perhaps this was boat number 4 in 40 minutes?
Perhaps it was time for me to put the camera DOWN,
and write a bit?
I did grab a few ideas here and there,
and quite possibly some of those will
show up here or at
A Deeper Story/Deeper Family/Deeper Church.
Who knows?
All I know for sure is this:
today's office visit(s)
were rich with reminder
that I am - truly -
being saved by beauty as I walk through each day.
O Lord, may I have eyes to see!
